Safety device



April 25, 1933.

A. c. NICOLS ET AL 1,906,081

- SAFETY DEVICE Filed May 27. 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l 90 Q Q ny'o'v' 9291 269139292 INVENTORS amt/1W6. meos mat Mozuv. Ma

April 25, 1933. AC. NICOLS ET AL SAFETY DEVI CE Filed May 27, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 s R O T N E V m Patented Apr. 25, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 ANDREW C. NICOLS AND MORRIS C. MOORE, OF GIR'ARD, 'OHIO SAFETY DEVICE Application filed May 27,

This invention is found in a safety device for a power press. Applicable to power presses generally, it has been developed as an accessory appliance to presses for stamp- 5 ing, embossing, and smooth plating leather and giving to the leather a proper condition of surface in preparation for the 1nanufacture of all classes of finished leather products. In such association the invention will be shown and described.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. I is a view in side elevation of a leather press having associated with it the safety device of i, this invention; Fig. II is a view in front elevation of the same assembly; Figs. III and IV are corresponding views, showing the device of the invention in association with a leather press of different type. The differently organized instrumentalities by which in the two cases the device is made automatically operative are particularly shown.

The press of Figs. I and II consists essentially of a stationary member 2 whose nether horizontally extending face is the working face, and a movable member 1 which in the operation of the press reciprocates vertically beneath the stationary member 2, and whose upper face cooperates with the nether'face of the stationary member 2 in the operation of pressing. The bite between these press members is indicated at a.

The movable member 1 carries tables 4. These tables extend from member 1 on both sides of the press to afford access from either 5 side, and they extend in a common plane, substantially coincident with the working face of member 1. The tables constitute rests for the work, and, in the operation of the machine, an attendant places the leather to be pressed upon one or the other of these tables and while it is resting upon the table and while the press is open he advances the leather upon the upper face of press member 1 and into the bite at beneath the member 2. The press closes upon the so introduced piece of leather, and when it opens again an attendant drags it out, perhaps upon the same table from which ithad been introduced, perhaps upon the opposite companion table.

1932. Serial No. 613,936.

when in position, standing upon the platform 5, that the attendant can have access over the associated table 4 to the press. The height of the stationary member 2 of the press is such that the attendant, standing on the platform, can readily introduce the material into and remove it from the press. The platforms S are formed as carriages to run on rails 6, laid on the foundation on which the press stands, and the direction'of carriage travel is toward and away from the press. Means are provided for shifting the carriages automatically on their rails, as the press closes and opens: as the press closes the carriages are shifted away from, and as the press opens they are shifted toward, the press. And the range of automatic shifting is such that an attendant standing on the platform can have access to the press only when the press is open: when the press closes,

it is beyond his reach. In Fig. II the remote positions of the carriages are indicated in dotted lines. Thus the attendant, obliged to stand on the platform, cannot by inadvertence suffer by having his hand caught in the closing press.

Opening and closing movement of the 30 press is elfected in usual manner by rotation of a shaft 7. In this embodiment of the invention the carriages are shifted by the rotation of associated screw shafts 8; and sprockets 9, which through chains 15 drive the worm shafts, are themselves driven by rack-andpinion drive 10, 11. The rack 10 is pivoted to the drive wheel 12 upon shaft 7, which thus becomes a crank-wheel, to the end that with each rotation of shaft 7 the rack 10 makes one complete to-and-fro reciprocation. The parts are proportioned and co-ordinated to effect the ends described. I

The rails 13 and 14 mounted upon the platform carriages 5 in obvious manner are of obvious usefulness.

The press of Figs. III and IV differs from that of Figs. I and II, in that the lower press member 20 isstationary and the upper, .21, reciprocates, being carried by a heavy beam 22; and the beam is swung by the rotation of shaft 27. This press is accessible from one side only, the left-hand side. Fig. III. As is the press first described, this press also is provided with a feed table 4:, and, associated with the press, on the side of access, is a single platform.

As in the organization first described, the reciprocation of the platform is effected through rack-an-pinion drive but in this case the screw shaft is dispensed with; the rack 23 is immediately connected to the platform and the pinion 24 which engages the rack is itself driven from shaft 27 through the crank rod and the gear-sector 26.

' and herein, as will be perceived, is provision for adjusting platform reciprocation to press operation.

Fig. III shows the platform 5 in remote position.

The press is tended by a workman who necessarily stands on one of the platforms provided for that purpose. As the press closes the platform recedes from the press to such distance that the attendant is beyond the reach of injury. He cannot, even if he would, disregard such warning as safety devices commonly give; he cannot circumvent the purpose for which they are provided; for he is bodily removed from a position permissive of circumvention. When the press opens the platform returns to position from which the one who stands on the platform may reach the machine.

We claim as our invention:

1. In combination with a power press including a movable member, a movable platform adapted to sustain and carry an attendant and standing normally in a position affording access by an attendant so carried to the open press, and means rendered effective by the closing movement of the movable member of the press for moving said platform away from the position defined.

2. In combination with a power press and press-operating means including a rotary shaft, a movable platform adapted to sustain and carry an attendant and standing normally in a posit-ion aflording access by an attendant so carried to the open press, and means including rack and pinion operated by the rotation of said shaft for reciprocating said platform from such position to a remote position and back again.

3. In combination with a power press and press-operating means including a rotary our hands.

ANDREW C. NICOLS. MORRIS O. MOORE. 

